‘Strictly Come Dancing‘ judge Shirley Ballas has refused to be drawn into discussions about any scandals surrounding the show this year.
The popular television dance competition has been blighted by several controversies over the years, including relationships between celebrity contestants and their professional dance partners, and, following the 2024 series, allegations of bullying and harassment made by some former celebrity partners of dancer Giovanni Pernice.
This year’s controversy involves businessman and former star of ‘The Apprentice,’ Thomas Skinner, who’s been paired with professional dancer Amy Dowden. Skinner has recently featured prominently in the press having revealed he was unfaithful soon after his wedding, and is often criticized for his political views.
In an interview with popular UK daytime show ‘Good Morning Britain’ on Tuesday, September 23, Ballas was asked by host Susanna Reid, “When you are there at the show recording, are you under a sense of responsibility because of the scandal that’s hit Strictly? Do you even consider it?”
Reid continued, “Obviously, you’ve got the issue around Thomas Skinner, we’ve got previous scandals – or is it a completely different planet of sequins and sparkles and it just doesn’t touch the sides?”
Ballas, however, was having none of it, opting to focus on the positive aspects of the show.
Scandal Talk ‘Doesn’t Touch the Sides’ for Shirley Ballas
GettyBallas replied to Reid by saying, “It doesn’t touch the sides. It’s baubles, bangles and beads for me. I stay in my lane.”
The ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ head judge then added, “I am there to do a critique from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Coordination, synchronisation, beautiful personality. I don’t get involved in anything.”
The other host, Richard Madeley, then interjected, commenting, “The thing is you can never see these things coming. I was watching on Saturday and I couldn’t see any potential for anything that we’ve seen over the last two or three years on Strictly. But you just never know. You never know what people are going to do, say, what paparazzi shots are going to emerge mid-week.”
Ballas still wasn’t going to be drawn in, as she replied, “We do have the best professionals in the world and they are all doing their very, very best when they’re working throughout the week. I’m sure that the final four or three is going to be off the chart.”
Ballas Predicts ‘Real Tough’ Series of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’
GettyIn the same interview, Reid asked Ballas, “Who’s going to win, Shirley?”
Ballas was diplomatic with her answer about the class of 2025, saying, “It’s actually an even playing field. There’s one or two of them that have the moves but I think this is going to be a real tough series, I really do.”
She then added, “I wouldn’t even want to predict who’s going to go home first. I had a good look when they were all doing their little dance on the launch show and they’ve all got a personality, all of them, and Ellie [Goldstein] was just outstanding. She’s loving every minute of this and she just brought so much joy.”
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ returns at 6:55 p.m. GMT on Saturday, September 27, on BBC One, for the first of series 23’s live shows.
